The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-20
Current Events.


The republican state convention OF Penn
svlv.nia held at Harrisburg, on "Wednesday
last was conspicuous In nothing except Tor
emphasizing the completeness with which
the marty in that state remains under the
thumb of the "bosses," the convention
merely recording the will OF Senator quay
as 10 the officers 70 be nominated, VINO
were w. B. Hart for State Treasurer ana H.
w. Williams for Judge OF Supreme Court
Another noticeable feature was the bloody
shirt speeches Of the chairman, Gen Has
tings. The platform Of course "favors
tariff for the sake of nurturing American
manufacturers :. for the purpose OF pro
tectlpg home labor against foreign labor,
as we'll as its products" &c. This plank
also wants the immigration laws revised
The other planks are In substance as fol
lows
~ Favoring the submission to the PEG
pie of the prohibitary constitutional amend
nent
az Favoring the creation of an American
marine by bounties on exports, &c.
(4) Favoring the distribution of the sur
Mus revenue TO the soldiers by enlarging
the pension list.
m "Arrsigns the democratic party and
the present administration for the general
imbicilty in dealing with all national ques
TONS" &c.
The other planks are In reference to state
matters, of no interest here. .
In addition TO the platform number OF
resolutions we're adopted, among others,
one noting "a change for the better In the
South, but expresses "detestation OF the dis
elimination still practice because of color,
another recommending change In the
mode of maintaining candidates f1r CON
gress and the senate; and third, comnen
datory of Gladstone and Parnell.
But the notable expression OF the con-
vention Is that which says
"The republicans Of Pennsylvania, the
natixe state of Hon. James g. Blaine, will
view with high pleasure his nomination
for the presidency In the campaign OF 1888
Accident can not abate the love OF great
party nor the admiration Of a great people
for statesman true alike to his convictions
and 10 his country"
On the same day the New York Labor
Party met at Syracuse to hold state con
yentfon. In the preliminary organization
the George party secured victory by elect
ing its candidates for temporary chairman
after which an adjournment was had until
Thursday morning. Thursday was spent
In wrangling, and no nominations had been
made up to midnight Thursday.
In speaking of the purposes OF the party
Mr.. John McMackin of the George party
said Il was their purpose to nominate and
run q full state ticket, notwithstanding
they had no hope Of Its election; and
would do the same In the presidential cam
paign of 1888.
In this connection the following telegram
TO the Daily Neps from Buffalo on the 18th,
NAV be interesting :-Adolph Strasser, pres
ident of the International Cigar Makers
union, made rather startling statement to-
dsy regarding the Knights OF Labor, He
said: "In 1878 paper published In fhlia-
delphia called The Trades, the official or
gan of secret organization OF labor, the
same of which had not then been made
public, denounced man named Jones Tor
organizing the unions into miners union.
That article caused me to suspect that the
new body was antagOnistic 70 trades unions
and determined TO watch 1t. soon found
that my suspicious were right. When
they were weak they were friendly to us,
but as soon as they began to grow they
thought to sweep things. When they be-
gan 10 show the cloven hoof left them and
would not attend the meeting or contribute
any money to body so directly opposed to
the unions. The Knights OF Labor are
diving out everywhere now. In one year
they have lost one. half of their number and
In another year they will lose halt OF their
present number. In Buffalo they are only
a corporal's guard. Most Of their members
though still nominally members, have left
them and gone back TO the unions. Nearly
all the cigar makers have left the Knights
of Labor because Powderly said that the
cigar makers we're too closely allied to the
rum. sellers. In Massachusetts, said Mr..
Strasser, they have decreased from "a 900
20 $1,000: In New York, from $1,000 TO
$4,000, and 1t Is this way all over Mr..
Strasser does not believe In mixing labor
with politics"
The prohibitionists Of Nebraska held a
State convention at Lincoln on Wednesday,
nominating State ticket. The platform
Is very long, but embodies the following
principles: II alleges that constitutional
and statutory prohibition In State and ma
ton Is the most vital Issue before the
American people; that license of the
LIQUOR traffic, high or low, Is public bribery
and crime of unequaled enormity, and
denounces the policy of the general gov
eminent for issuing federal permits to
Hquor sellers; 1t demands the repeal of the
law permitting foreigners to vote at State
and municipal elections before they are
naturalized citizens Of the United States
favors granting pensions to disabled Union
soldiers without requiring any but proof of
such disability; holds that every American
citizen of sound mind should be- allowed
equal rights and privileges before the law,
without regard TO sex, rsce, or color; favors
government control OF railroads and tele-
sraphs: iudicts the Republican party Of
Enkrsaka on the charge of defeating the